My apology is based on the fact that the OP did not ASK for a critique, and as I was the first person to throw one out there (I think), then I set the tone that then invited everyone else to critique. It's as simple as that.
Whether what I said was right or wrong in its' content is not part of that apology, only that I mistakenly jumped to the conclusion that the OP wanted feedback, which she has voiciferously told us she does NOT want.

I was going to add my two-cents, but Kayty did a wonderful, kind job of explaining and demonstrating things :) My first thought (too) was "Oh NO! HEADSET? :::cringe:::" haha... I was also going to say that your horse looks like it is working more willingly in the most recent pictures, but again - is clearly pulling on you as opposed to accepting the bit. You'll get there, though!

Kayty's pictures really demonstrate an ideal lightness of contact between rider's hands and horse's mouth - her horse is not straining on the bit like your's appears to be. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish with this horse in the future - please, ask your trainer about "collection" as opposed to "head set"... if you're trainer can't point you in the right direction, then perhaps you should seek someone who is credentialed or accomplished with Dressage. Even if you plan to work at a lower level, proper dressage training will only help you and your horse, and will translate nicely to any discipline you choose in the future.

Even if you weren't asking for a critique, I think she did a really nice demonstration for you :)

P.S. If he has a problem with the cannon bone, why were you considering hunter/jumper with him/her? Or, is that why you chose to focus on flatwork instead?

This is an interesting thread to me, because my horse (quarter-Arab) has similar problems, and I think your Arab's progress is terrific!

ALL the instructors I've had with her say it's okay, at this time, that the head's too low, even when I point out she's on the forehand. "Just push her out a little more," they'd say. Because while in this "incorrect" position her back is learning to stretch, not an easy thing for this type of horse.

I once had a lesson with a substitute horse, as my horse was lame. I rode a First Level (about) Hannoverian mare. I told the instructor what I was working at with my own horse; but this horse was so different, my home problems just didn't exist. You can't start horses all the same way.

When my horse occasionally goes behind the bit, I raise my hands. Why? Because I watched Buck Brannerman school a horse like that once, and I often try out different methods, and in this case, with my horse, the action was pretty gentle (on the lips instead of against the bars of her mouth) and for some reason my horse understood it meant her head was too low. Strangely, it lets her know when her head is too high, too.

The more and more horse people I meet, I realize that there are two camps. Those who want to ride right, and those who want to ride easy. When the former attempt to help the latter, the result is a thread like this, because the latter always think the former are mean and the former usually thing that the latter should just buy a **** bicycle if they want to just sit there and do nothing.

Our horses are not machines. We cannot set parts of their bodies and expect them to stay that way. Nor can we jerk or pull or see saw or kick and otherwise brutalize the horse into correctness.

I think it is WRONG to expect certain well respected members posting on this thread to apologize to an OP who is expecting to use above described methods to ride her horse. As an equine community, no matter how LOUD someone is, it does not, ever, make them right and we cannot blindly accept what people are doing to their horses simply because they whine and complain. The behaviors of some people on this thread appall me and have caused me to lose a great deal of respect for them.

There is right and there is wrong, and no amount of whining and complaining will change that. As was stated originally, if the OP wishes to be told how wonderful and pretty her horse is, there is a "pictures" forum for a reason. It was not wrong of anyone to assume that because this thread exists in the "training" forum that the OP wanted input into her training, for that is why the training forum exists!

My trainer used to tell me, 'Either do it right, or get off the ****ed horse and take up knitting! I don't need to be wasting my time and your money if you don't want to learn to ride properly.'

Sorry you got more than you bargained for, OP. Now you know to post pictures in the Pictures section if you just want people telling you how purty your horse is, and that you two must have a fantastical bond. He is very cute. I've always been a sucker for Ayrabs.

The more and more horse people I meet, I realize that there are two camps. Those who want to ride right, and those who want to ride easy. When the former attempt to help the latter, the result is a thread like this, because the latter always think the former are mean and the former usually thing that the latter should just buy a **** bicycle if they want to just sit there and do nothing.

Our horses are not machines. We cannot set parts of their bodies and expect them to stay that way. Nor can we jerk or pull or see saw or kick and otherwise brutalize the horse into correctness.

I think it is WRONG to expect certain well respected members posting on this thread to apologize to an OP who is expecting to use above described methods to ride her horse. As an equine community, no matter how LOUD someone is, it does not, ever, make them right and we cannot blindly accept what people are doing to their horses simply because they whine and complain. The behaviors of some people on this thread appall me and have caused me to lose a great deal of respect for them.

There is right and there is wrong, and no amount of whining and complaining will change that. As was stated originally, if the OP wishes to be told how wonderful and pretty her horse is, there is a "pictures" forum for a reason. It was not wrong of anyone to assume that because this thread exists in the "training" forum that the OP wanted input into her training, for that is why the training forum exists!

And that's my nickel for the day.

There is no expectation of apology. It's always voluntary.

I would never want to offer any kind of advice or critique, however inadequate (spell?) my advice might be, if it were not wanted. Unless a person asks, they really aren't interested or ready for learning.

And, yes, some of the behaviors of people on these threads are questionable.

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